Hey, you came back! Nice to see you again! If you are new here, I am taking you on a tour of my home. (Well, the part that is not piled with toys, sippy cups and shoes!)

Yesterday, I showed off my cleaned up front porch. Here is a full view of the house. My husband works hard on our yard, so I tried to show a little bit of the green grass. Great job hubby! It was raining when I took this, so it sort of looks like I live in a rain forest.

Come on in Ya’ll…

This is the dinning room I just re-arranged. Since I didn’t plan on doing this, I have no before shots. But I can tell you it was very cluttered with a big tree, ugly dried flowers on little shelves, candle sticks, frames of the kids. Just a bunch of things that didn’t belong!

I am enjoying this toned down simple look. Three things I want to add to this room. Maybe you can give me some ideas!

A Rug. Should it be a colorful pattern or simple?

Blue accents. A peacock blue maybe? Something to help that painting pop. Oh, what about a pretty table cloth? I can’t picture a blue table cloth though? mmmm?

Plates around the big mirror. Or should I just leave it? I can’t make decisions!!

My favorite area of the house is my family photos along the stairs.

I love decorating with old books and fruit.

I usually buy bags of apples and lemons at every grocery store run. I have small children and can’t keep anything too nice within little arms reach! I have a big bowl full of sea shells and those are all broken now! Right before I took this photo below, I realize there was a bite in one of the apples. I should have left it! ha.

Note the big bowl of broken shells on the table above. I can’t believe that crystal bowl is still intact!

Now after looking at these photos. I really want to get new lamps and blue accents! I used to have lamps, in these rooms, but ended up moving them to areas that we actual use on a daily basis.

You may think, oh bla… where’s the color? Since all my other rooms are very colorful, I left the entry neutral tones. It’s fun to change color with accents.

NOTE: After posting my home tour. I realized there was a POOPIE party going on at the Nesting Place! POOPIE stands for: People Opposing Objectionable Pretend Plants In the Environment. You know, like bright green ivy hanging over the tops of cabinet. You can read all about it here. I am very much a POOPIE, then realized I have more than one pretend plant! How many fakes do you see in my rooms above? Are they really horrible or okay? ha! Or maybe you never even noticed? You can join in on the fun and link to your wonderful or horrible pretend plants, pumpkins, fruits, or whatever it is you want to share!

One of my weekend projects was to clean my front porch. Well, I went a little nuts. One minute I was sweeping my steps, then the next I was re-arranging furniture in my dining and living room! I think the new season of Top Design got me inspired to simplify my rooms. So I thought I would give you a house tour to show my semi-new digs. Plus, it’s always fun to see someone else’s house right?

I’ll show off my front porch today, because I did spend a lot of time cleaning it up and getting ready for Fall. What flowers I did have outside were all dead. It was so ugly and dusty!! I don’t know why I didn’t take a before picture? I never think ahead for this bloggy stuff.

Instead of a wreath, I decided on this for the door. I found some great plants on sale! I love that! This needs to be a little bigger. So I’m still on the hunt for some good vines. But for now, it will have to do.

Look at this shinny door! For the second time in 8 years, I washed the door AND the windows.

Ready to come inside?

Sorry, you’ll have to come back tomorrow!!! I’m such a tease… Hope to see you then!

I have high hopes of taking time to be crafty this Fall. Here are a few things on my list to make.

Pretty Wreath

My door is dark wood. It’s always a challenge to get something to stand out. Maybe if the ribbon is really bright orange it will work. Love the feathers. I can only use these outside… Rocky LOVES to eat feathers then proceed to throw up on my rug. A favorite pastime of my cat.

Halloween Tree

These are stickers on the ornaments. What a cute idea!

Halloween Lampshade

What You Need

Lampshade

Sheet crepe paper: orange and black

1-inch-diameter circle punch

Orange construction paper

Crafts glue

How to Make It

Cut 2- and 3-inch-wide strips of orange and black crepe paper long enough to fit around the lampshade.

Fold each strip lengthwise, and using scissors, cut slits 1/2 inch apart to make the fringe.

Glue the fringes in place on the shade.

Punch orange paper circles and adhere to the shade with glue.

Use double-sided tape instead of crafts glue if you plan to use the lampshade post-Halloween.

I’m excited to participate in Melissa’s Fall Nesting Week. There are some great ideas on her site. I don’t want to give away all of my Halloween ideas just yet, so here are some photos that make me happy and I hope will inspire you to get ready for the upcoming season.

Easy Centerpiece

I love antique glasses! You could use any type of pretty glassses, small vases and plates. I need to get some green candles though. I just whipped this together tonight! I have loads of candy corn. It’s my favorite Halloween decor!! The small turkeys are mini salt and pepper shakers.

Outdoor Inspiration

I hope you enjoy my garden as much as me!

Just kidding!!!! I only wish that was my garden. ha! This is just a tiny section of our beautiful Dallas Arboretum. My garden is great, but missing rows of pumpkins and basically blooming flowers right now:-( Check back in a few weeks, I might just get it looking like this.

Favorite Rituals

In Texas, we don’t get “real” fall weather until Thanksgiving. I have a leaf jumping party for the kids in December! Besides our Halloween party, leaf jumping is my other favorite ritual.

Halloween Fun

What a spooktacular tree! I took this photo at my favorite local pumpkin patch.